(For the Prosecutors)

The King
agst.
John Pugett< no role > }
On an Indictment for Defendts. refusing
to execute the Office of Constable:

London
Bill found in April Sessions
1741.

Indictment setsforth That the City of London is an Antient City And that according to the Custom thereof used
time out of Mind at a Court of Wardmote held for the Ward of Bishopsgate London to wit in the Parish of St. Helen in sd.
Warden 22d. Decr. in the 14th. year of King George the 2d. Etc before Sr. Robt. Godschall< no role > Knt . then & now one of ye Aldren of
sd. City & then & yet Aldran of sd. Ward the Deft late of the Parish of St. Botolph Bishopsgate Mercht . then & long before
being an Inhabitant within same Parish & Ward And a fit Person to execute ye Office of Constable within the same Ward
was lawfully and according to Custom Etc elected one of the Constables Etc for one year then next ensuing by the Men inhabiting
& resiant paying Scott and bearing Lott within the same Ward Whereof Deft on sd. 22d. Decr. & at diverse other days
& times at London Etc had notice Nevertheless Deft not regarding his duty but endeavouring to retard the Execucon
of Justice from sd. 22d. Dert. until the day of taking this Inquisition at ye same Parish and Ward Etc voluntarily obstinately
and contemptuously refused denied & neglected to take upon himself & execute sd. Office of Constable agst. his sd. duty
Etc To the bad Example Etc & agst. the Peace Etc.

2d.

Indictmt. also setsforth That Deft on same 22d. Decr. in sd. 14th. Year & long before & always after until the
day of taking this Inquisicon was inhabiting and resiant paying Scott and bearing Lott within sd. Parish of Saint
Botolph Bishopsgate in sd. Ward And that within the same there is & from the time whereof Etc hath been a
Court of the King & his Predecessors called a Wardmote held & to be held every year upon ye Feast of St. Thomas
the Apostle unless it happened on a Sunday & then upon the day following before ye Aldran of sd. Ward or his Deputy
In wch. Court according to Custom within sd. Ward to wit in sd. Parish of Saint Helen all the Men inhabiting and
resiant & paying Scott & Lott Etc have been accustomed to appear & do Suit And yearly to appoint & chuse diverse
Persons inhabiting Etc Constables in & for sd. Ward for preserving the peace & apprehending Rogues Etc within sd
Ward for the Publick Good which Persons so appointed & chosen were used to held sd. Office for ye year ensuing and
untill another should be elected And also were used on ye Monday next after Epiphany after their Election to take
their Oath for the Execution of sd. Office at Guildhall before the Mayor & Aldren of sd. City And that Deft 22d. Decr. in
sd. Fourteenth year being the day next following the Feast of St. Thomas which said Feast that year happened
on a Sunday in sd. Court of Wardmote for sd. Ward in sd. Parish of St. Helen before Sr. Robert Godschall< no role > Knt . then
& yet Etc was duly elected Constable for one Year & untill Etc And that Deft sd. 22d. December had notice thereof
& was required to appear before the Mayor 7 Aldren on ye Monday next after Epiphany to take his Oath for the Execucon
of his said Office Nevertheless Deft not regarding his duty Etc the requested hath refused to take his Oath or
execute sd. Office In Contempt Etc and agst. the Peace Etc.

3d

Indictmt. further setsforth That Deft on sd. 22d. Decr. in sd. fourteenth year & long before & always after until
taking this Ingn: was inhabiting Etc within sd. Parish of sd. Botolph Bishopsgate in sd. Ward & that within the
same there is & from the time Etc hath been a Court called the Wardmote held every year on the Feast of St. Thos.
the Apostle unless it happened on a Sunday & then on the day following before the Alderman of sd. Ward or
his Deputy In wch. Court to wit in the parish of St. Helen all the Men inhabiting Etc were bound to appear & do Suit
And yearly were used to appoint & chuse diverse Persons then inhabiting Etc to be Constables for the several
Precincts of sd. Ward for preserving the Peace Etc who ought to held sd. Office for the year ensuing & until Etc And
were used on the Monday next after Epiphany after their sd. Election to take their Oath for the due Execution of
their sd. Office at Guildhall before the Mayor & Aldren And Deft on sd. 22d Decr. in sd. 14th. Year that day being
the day following the feast of St. Thos. the Apostle wth. happened that year to be on a Sunday in sd. Court then
held before Sr. Robert Godschall< no role > Knt . then & yet Aldran of sd Ward was by the Men Etc duly elected into the
Office of Constable for the Precinct of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate being one of the Precincts of sd. Ward